Friday, April 1, 2011

"Westone isn't exactly a household name, even in the earphone universe. But what the company lacks in recognition, it more than makes up for in quality. If you'll recall, we had a listen to its ES5 custom in-ear monitors earlier in the year, and while they cost a staggering $950, they also managed to melt our brain and thoroughly spoil us in the process. Thankfully, there's a budget alternative: the Westone 4. Granted, even 50 percent off still lands you right around $449, but many audiophiles would argue that said price is a small one to pay when looking at a quad-driver setup, a three-way crossover network and an insanely robust set of earbud tips. There's no question that these guys are aimed at the professionals in the crowd, and if you're interested in seriously stepping up your mobile listening game, you owe it to yourself to peek our full review."

Engadget's Darren Murph delves into Westone's new $450 IEM headphones and finds a lot to like, with an even range across highs, mids, and even low frequency sounds. These are clearly dedicated headphones, with no in-line media controls, no microphone, and no cable extension but the power and lightness of these phones reportedly can hold its own. Westone has just started shipping the phones, but it's up to you to decide if it's worth $450 for a set of earbuds with few bells. Read onto the source article for the full review.